Hart Christmas - Part 2

Continuing our Christmas festivities, Granny and Pop invited us over Christmas Eve day to open gifts and spend the day together. Of course, Granny and Pop spoiled us all, because the back of the Yukon was over-flowing when we left! The girls enjoyed every minute (as always) at Granny and Pop's house!










Waiting to open gifts at Granny and Pop's house.










Granny and Pop love to spoil the girls!










Daddy received a new grill! He loves it!













Pop is stylin' in his new Harley jacket.

So many gifts! Where in the world where we store it all?!

Sydni tests out her easel from Granny and Pop.

Our little mess-maker is in heaven!

Thank you for our gifts, Pop and Granny!

Of course, we need a bath after playing with our paint. Plus, we need to test out our new dolls for the bathtub!

We put a cute outfit on after bathtime that Granny and Pop gave us!

Mak looks so cute and onery!

The holidays bring out the best in them!

Hart Christmas - Part 1

Our very first "tree" was with Marlon (Donnie's Dad), Jeri Kate (the girls call her Jeri Cake), and Aunt McCaleb. The girls loved their interactive gifts: Sydni was given a digital arts and crafts studio desk, and Makenzi a SmartCycle. Both toys were very popular with the girlies! We can't thank Marlon, Jeri, and Aunt McCaleb enough for thoroughly spoiling all of us!

After opening gifts at our house, we celebrated Christmas with the rest of the "Hart Clan" at Marlon's house. The big hit of the evening was McCaleb's Twister game that we bought her. I'm not sure how long it has been since you've played Twister, but it is definitely a more challenging game the older you get! We had fun watching the older guys give it a whirl!

Mak's Tinkerbell Party

Whew! The Tinkerbell Party was a definite success! Makenzi was beyond excited to be the birthday girl and to have her beloved cousins and friends attend her party. There was lots of jumping, sweating, cake, and presents, and two very tired parents after the party was over! My living room is now a psuedo-playroom until I can make room for the millions of toys she opened at Jump N' Jungle! She stayed up until well past her bed time, trying her hardest to play (or partly open) each and every toy. Alee and Alyx spent the night, so the girls had loads of fun playing with the "girly" toys. (There were a few fights, but no blood!)
The Ketchum boys were also in town, but didn't spend the night. We did, however, have a very lengthy (but enjoyable, mind you) day playing, and fighting, playing and fighting....not in that particular order! I've come to the conclusion that if The Cousins (we are our own mob) were ever to end up at the same school system together, they would definitely take over, if not destroy the school! Since my sisters and I are friends of the public schools, the Hart girls will stay in Lubbock, Layci and her gals will stay in Amarillo, and Hayli & her crew will stay in White Deer so our combined forces will not overwhelm and disentegrate the public school system as we know it! Syd and Mak absolutely LOVE and adore their cousins, but they are all so much alike that the "personalities" can be exhausting when combined!
Makenzi had a grand time at her party - eating yummy Tinkerbell cake, jumping for over an hour, and opening loads of awesome gifts. She was so tired and elated after her party, that I'm sure it will be several days before she comes down from her birthday high. Thank you to all that attended, all that sent gifts, and to all that love our Makenzi Jo. She is a fun gal to love, and we are blessed that God gave us this amazing little girl to love and raise!

The traditional "Birthday Pancakes" always start our birthday!



She was so excited to wear the Tink costume to the party! Uncle Bub and Aunt Tara, thank you for the cute costume!

Um, of course Syd had to wear a costume, too. Good think we had another!

My favorite picture!

Happy Birthday, Makenzi!

To my Makki Jo -

Three years old...it's really hard to believe that you are alrealdy such a big girl. You've accomplished a lot this year - from potty training to maintaining a gum-free sinus cavity, and the latter of which I am definitely the most grateful for! I keep having more fun with you as each year passes, so I'm sure this year will not be any different. Not ever knowing what is going to come out of that mouth of yours is constant entertainment, and sometimes, embarassment. Your unique and fiesty personality is what Daddy and I prize most about our Makki...you are definitely one-of-a-kind; never to be duplicated. Try not to pack so much heat in that punch, and let's work on keeping our short-fused temper in check, as you are older and wiser! Being "three" is sure to be a whirlwind adventure for us all....I love you so very much, Mak-aroni!

The Polar Express!

If you've never read the book or seen the movie, The Polar Express is a fun holiday treat fo the whole family. When my friend Dana told us about the train experience coming to Lubbock, I knew the girls would love to climb aboard. We boarded the train at 5:30 and were seated in the upstairs car, which had a great view and was actually quite comfortable. The Roberts sat across from us, and the Garzas were a few rows behind us, so it was fun to experience the journey with friends. Hot chocolate and cookies were served, which of course, was Makenzi's favorite part! The train pulled in to the North Pole to pick up Santa, who climbed aboard our car to let the children tell him what they wanted for Christmas. The girls were literally bouncing around the entire ride and loved every minute of it!

Reading the Polar Express books Daddy got them before leaving...

Patiently waiting to leave for the Polar Express trip!

Can you say THE cutest little elf in the entire North Pole? My friend Dana and her handsome son, Zach.

Granny Deb and Pop helped us tame the wild women!

They were bouncing off the walls!

Sydni makes Pop read the book to her.

The Roberts Family: Shauna, Evan, Boston and Cole (baby Ellison didn't go on the ride)

Evan and Sydni pose for the cameras.



















The Conductor punches our tickets...just like in the movie!


















The girls love the hot chocolate!

Mak is loving the refreshments!

Dancing to the "Hot, Hot, Hot, Hot Chocolate" Song.

I see Santa!

Posing with an elf...I'm shorter than the elves on this train!

The girls tell Santa what they want for Christmas, and in return, he gives them a jingle bell. The bell has a big part in the book and movie, so they understood why it was so important!

A Weekend of Sickness

Does this look like a sick kid to you?

The stomach bug found it's way to the Hart Household this weekend. The girls both succumbed to it, but what is crazy is that both are such troopers when they are sick! Even though they might have to pause and run to the toilette, they would wrestle and play as if they were A-Okay! I wish I was so energetic when I'm feeling pukey, but the bug didn't really slow them down.

They love each other...every now and then.

It looks like Mak has had enough of cuddle time by the tree....such a moody turd.

Syd-o is sick, but has plenty of energy to play in Mom's boots and prance around...Sheesh!

I wouldn't let them go outside to see Lady and Fudge, so we compromised and I let them open the kitchen window to "talk" to their pups.

Mak's crazy, mullet do' is very pretty, isn't it?! Heaven forbid she let Mommy run a brush through it or pull it up!